An artist’s conception shows Charon (with Pluto in the background) against the Milky Way. The plumes and brighter spots depicted on Charon are thought to be created as water (with some ammonia hydrate mixed in) “erupts” from deep beneath the surface. The material sprays out through cracks in the icy crust, immediately freezes, and snows crystalline ice down onto the surface, creating a water-ammonia hydrate ice field.